I bought this wine yesterday at a cute wine store right near my house (which I want to talk about in a future post)- and honestly, I bought it because I had a coupon for $6.99! When I went in the wine guy at the store spoke very highly of it so I was very interested in trying it. Now, as you all know I am not a crazy red wine drinker – but this was delicious. As I always say, I can’t drink a ton of it but that’s probably a good thing!

Washington State

This wine comes from the good old state of Washington. I quickly found the winery’s website which is super nice! This particular wine was described as the following:

“Plump aromas of ripe cherry, red berry and jam fill the nose, followed by notes of luscious berry sweetness on the palate. This textured wine with moderate tannins ends with a round finish”

EXACTLY!

I couldn’t have said it better myself – really I couldn’t which is why I copied and pasted that from the website!

At the end of the evening

is when I poured myself a glass of this gem – which may also play a part in my enjoyment of it! I sipped on a couple of glasses of this Cab Sav before everyone left the party! It’s 13.5% alcohol may have played a part in the way I felt this morning – but overall it was a great experience and a delicious wine at a bargain price!

HAPPY WINE.ING!!

Golden colour with a pear nose and alcohol. Nicely balanced between a wet and dry mouthfeel. Refreshing sweet fruity taste with a little sourness and mild yeast lingering into the aftertaste. A nice blended white wine.

Raiting: 3.8/5

We signed our lease, moved into our new place, my internship ended, and I’m starting my coaching job next week.

Forgive the lack of wine blogging — but let me assure you, there has been no lack of wine drinking.

Our new place is right next door to a Trader Joe’s and a 24-hour Ralph’s. So we’re always drinking wine. We also got excited last week when we thought we found the Girasole unoaked chardonnay that broke after I first moved down to LA, but alas, it was just the regular chardonnay. And it was still amazing.

We’ve had many other wines, but we’ve kind of been on a côtes du Rhone  kick since I discovered this awesome French wine at Trader Joe’s (Le Famille Perrin, to be exact). We’ve also had lots of pinot noir’s lately, but for tonight’s blog, I’m back to my old favorite: a red blend.

I’ve been missing my home state (though not the weather) so I decided to grab a Columbia Crest Two Vines this week. It was about $8 at Ralph’s, and is from 2008, so it’s got a few years on it. Two Vines is the “cheaper” version of Columbia Crest’s regular wines, but from what I’ve had of their AMAZING syrah ($5.99 back home for a 2 litre bottle), I don’t doubt that this one will be great too. The bottle says that the “Two Vines” part comes from the “tresilling of the vines” and this particular wine was grown on the winery’s old Vineyard 10, hence the name. So really, there’s nothing “cheap” about this wine except for the price.

On the nose, Vineyard 10 is very chemical. My super-duper wine wheel to the pungent section, where I’m going to guess it’s a slightly ethanol smell. Hmm…gas is $4.59 here…if it ever gets up above $12 per gallon I may just fuel my journeys with wine! Well, my walking journeys anyway — I wouldn’t want to waste a tasty wine in my tank.

Ohh, slightly spicy! I wasn’t expecting that. It’s very plummy and berry-y too. The chemical definitely sticks around, which makes me curious about the soil it’s grown in. Surely acidic. I’ve driven by Columbia Crest on a few occasions, but never one where I was able to stop in for a tasting. I’ll have to make a point of that next time I visit the ole homeland. There’s some blackberry showing up too (thanks, bottle, for pointing me in the right direction — I guess I’ve been out of practice too long!) and it has a very tangy aftertaste. Hardly any tannins though, and it retains its spicy front after it goes down. This is a very mellow, very pleasant wine. You could probably make a mean steak marinade out of this one, though I’d see it best fit as a hot spiced wine in the winter time. When it comes time for that, I’ll definitely document my experience!

Later this week, Brian and I are heading back to a wonderful little bar we found called the Red Lion. Located in Silverlake (the hipster mecca of the world), it’s a little German pub that serves the BEST beer I’ve ever tasted. I’ll post a special topic blog from on the scene about the beer, the sausage, and the authentic German bar hag. Trust me, it’s awesome.

Region: Ontario, Canada
Winery: Strewn Inc.
Varietal: Riesling and Gewürztraminer
Price: $11.95 (can)
LCBO#: 467662
2010

Golden colour with a pear nose and alcohol. Nicely balanced between a wet and dry mouthfeel. Refreshing sweet fruity taste with a little sourness and mild yeast lingering into the aftertaste. A nice blended white wine.

3.8/5

These nine wines are always crowd-pleasers.

Fall brings get-togethers and whether your gathering is centered around football, baseball, basketball or any other spectator sport, or a family and frends social, wine is a natural for entertaining. On-the-fly get togethers or sporting events are no longer classified as “beer only” occasions, because more and more Americans are opting to sip wine on the sidelines and at the table.

Wine is a real crowd-pleaser – and scores big points for its versatility. Wine teams up with chips and dip at a lively game day party as well as it does with beef tenderloin at a sit-down dinner. It is easy to find great wine at most wine shops for under $20, or under $15 which means wine is perfect for all types of entertaining occasions. You can stick to pretzels and pizza or opt for a full-blown tailgate party, there is a wine for everything and everyone.

You needn’t stress about selecting wines to serve at your gathering. The best advice I can offer is to stick to what YOU like and choose food-friendly wines in both red and white and you will be the hero.  To compliment the range of spiciness often found in party foods, try lighter wines, typically higher in acid and often with sweet, spicy or fruity characteristics. Winning white wines include bright Sauvignon Blanc or unoaked Chardonnay. For red wine fans, you might want to lean toward a lightly spicy Pinot Noir or fruity Beaujolais.

If you are serving everyone’s favorite fast food, pizza you will have an easy match. With so many variations in toppings, pizza matches well with so many wines. Keep with the Italian theme and go for Chianti. Chianti’s tart ,cherry flavor and bright acidity meld well with any pizza’s tomato sauce. You might want to try Melini Chianti ‘Borghi d’Elsa.  Melini Chianti ‘Borghi d’Elsa is vinified in a traditional Tuscan style, so it is fragrant with intense and elegant aromas of blackberries and raspberries, with violet notes. It is a dry, full-bodied red that is slightly tannic,  with an elegant aftertaste of toasted almond.

Sometimes, you just want a something other than Chianti, that’s when you might want to venture to Italy’s Piedmont region and the Barbera grape, which also has a nice tang to accompany pepperoni or sausage. Marchesi di Barolo Barbera del Monferrato Maraia 2008 is a blend of 90% Barbera and 10% Dolcetto. This wine has the typical aromas of rose, wild berries, and sour black cherry. Fresh and clean, the flavors are intensely powerful,with a light hint of vanilla and toasted oak. This full-bodied, pleasant, and balanced wine is a perfect match with traditional recipes, meats,  and barbecue.

This time of year, a lot of crock pots get pulled out of storage and two quintessential American foods—Chili and Sloppy Joes—are back on many a gathering menu, especially after a day of raking leaves. These foods call for quintessential American wines. Right now a current favorite get-together wine is Pedroncelli’s Friends.Red from Sonoma. Friends.Red is a young and zesty, proprietary blend of Merlot, Zinfandel, Syrah and Sangiovese. At around $10, this wine is full of lively black cherry and vanilla aromas and firm plum and toasty oak flavors and a true crowd-pleaser—not to mention a great value.

You might want to try a lush, fruit-forward Zinfandel with a sloppy joe, the bright berry flavors will have affinity for the sweet, tomato flavors. For around $15, Rosenblum Vintners Cuvée XXXIII Zinfandel, from California has a super-rich fruit intensity. It opens with a mélange of raspberry, plum, and Bing cherry aromas, followed by sweet mocha and vanilla spices and red stone fruits on the medium-bodied palate. This vibrant, well-balanced wine has good acidity and fine tannins making it suited for all occasions, as it also pairs well with barbecued meats, pizza or pastas.

When it comes to Chili, I like opening a bottle of Rioja from Spain (with flavors of the Tempranillo grape) works wonders, as these wines have the same earthy and meaty characteristics. Lan Crianza Rioja is 100% Tempranillo. This little wine that often runs around $12 garnered 90 points and #44 on the Wine Spectator’s Top 100 Wines of 2010. As this fruity wine has always been on my Top 100 list, I worried that Wine Spectator’s rating would create a run on this wine. This wine has a lot to love about it: smooth, fruit-forward nose of dark cherries, with minimal oak influence, crisp acidity, medium drying tannins, and a long finish. Lan has a bright palate of dusty berry flavors, cranberry, and spice and a velvety, mouth-filling texture. Lan also gets better the longer it is open, so open it at least 20 minutes before you plan to drink it, if you can.

With Nachos and Quesadillas, I have to say one of the best matches for anything with corn, such as chips or tortillas, is Chardonnay because the Chardonnay will compliment creamy cheeses and counterpoint the salsa. Here, I would opt for a California chardonnay like Bogle with its tantalizing aromas  of fruit and spice. The flavors of green apples and juicy pears give way to elegant hints of Meyer lemons, and sink softly into spicy vanilla notes of American oak. This ripe and refreshing wine offers a rich and velvety mouthfeel and the finish perfectly balances the wine’s creaminess and acidity.

In the red category, Zinfandel joyfully accompanies spicy salsa and Merlot can have a cooling effect. Currently, my favorite Merlot is California’s Twomey Merlot 2007 Napa Valley Merlot; it’s a blend of 94% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Cabernet Sauvignon. It’s supple, complex and has a great expression of berry fruit. It has a a nose of fresh, ripe black cherry and blackberry, dark chocolate and the alluring smell of roasting coffee. On the palate, it is savory and full of explosive fruit and violets. The long finish echoes berry fruit and chocolate and grainy well-integrated tannins. I recommend drinking the reds slightly chilled around 50 – 56°.

I know a lot of parties offer those tasty, yet often messy, Buffalo wings. Piquant and vinegary wings need a white wine with loads of acidity like Columbia Crest’s Two Vines Sauvignon Blanc. This fresh, lively Sauvignon Blanc opens with the typical aromas of lemon zest, honeydew melon, dried herbs and a hint of freshly cut grass followed by juicy melon, gooseberry and kiwi flavors.This affordable wine from Washington state has a lengthy, bright citrus-like finish that compliments wings.

A Spanish Albarino like the seductive Paco & Lola offers a rich, exotic palate of pineapple and mango intermingled with refreshing citrus flavors amplified by minerally accents that stand up to the sharpness of the flavors or wings.

If the wings are exceptionally spicy, an off-dry Columbia Crest Two Vines Riesling could be the ticket to tame the heat. This unrestrained Riesling has aromas of guava, lime zest and honeysuckle, followed by intense nectarine, apricot and mandarin orange flavors resting on a lively acid structure balancing an early sweetness, and ending in a candy-like finish.

If you’re sticking to something slightly lower in calories, veggies, you need to remember crispy and crunchy crudités call for a fresh, zippy white like a Sauvignon Blanc. A current favorite that seems to appeal to everyone is The Beach House from from South Africa’s Douglas Green Winery. The Beach House is a Semillon/Sauvignon Blanc blend and is an easy sipping, crowd-pleaser.

Not in the mood for a Sauv Blanc? Well, the South African Brampton Chardonnay is an unoaked Chard that shows fresh tropical notes on the nose. The palate shows great density and richness well balanced by vibrantly delicious peach fruit and and a crisp clean citrus finish.This wine is also a perfect companion to pears and blue cheese.

Okay, red-only drinkers you might want to try something light and fruity like a chilled Beaujolais or  Pinot Noir from Oregon with those veggies. Cloudline Pinot Noir has fresh aromatic nuances of raspberry, violets and a touch of spice. On the palate, the wine is all cherries and red fruits. The tannins are soft, and balanced with a long finish.

For your gathering you can use these suggestions or make up your own, whatever you decide, have fun with your wine choices, and encourage your guests to do the same.

So, tonight I am making baked chicken, brown rice, steamed fresh spinach and a salad. We are having this Washington State Cabernet, which Tom purchased at our local grocery store for $6 a bottle. I like it. It’s not a wine in which I am swooning over, but it is really good and there isn’t anything unpleasant about it. I would describe it as very fruity. The nose is woody — pine, actually  — while the palate is lush, juicy fruit. As my brother-in-law so aptly sums up: It drinks good.

It is a beautiful July Sunday evening and we go back to work tomorrow. Having spent the last three days/evenings teaching, I wanted a good home-cooked meal so I went to our local butcher and bought a fresh whole chicken. I am roasting that along with potatoes and carrots. I will make a salad, too.